Argument with Heart

VIII

VIII

It was  drizzling, making  the weather still cold. After helping Samantha into the passenger seat, they drove in silence.

Ian was dreading to talk to her, but he was short of words.

What should I ask her? How are you? No. How you been? No, that too cheesy

His fear of pushing her away again, was higher than his longing to spend time with her. He looked at her, taking the serene look at her face, as she was looking out of the window enjoying the passing by scenery.

Samantha was drawing on the glass window that was casting a foggy appearance with her breath. He felt her posture much relaxed, unlike a few minutes ago, when she had almost killed him with her glare. He liked this Samantha, rather than the stubborn one. But both have an edge to her personality.

He smiled and focused his gaze back on the road again. He tried to drive as slow as possible, in a hope to spend more time with her. This would at least buy him time to think about his next move.

Samantha's mind was not able to forget the little event from the kitchen.

He said he had missed her. Was it true? If it s true, than why didn't he try to find in all these years? Why he didn't speak to her yesterday?

There were many questions, she wanted to ask and demand for answers, but she doesn't know how to start. She needed an initiation and she was assuming, he should make the first move. She looked out the window once again and noticed they were not on the correct track to her house. Ian had taken a longer approach, but she didn't mind. May be he wanted to talk to me. But why he is not saying anything yet? 

"Sam..”. Ian called her name with a low murmur. He was not sure if she would respond. Don't scare her. Kelly's words crossed his thoughts.

She didn't respond.  He looked at her. She was deep in her own world of thoughts. What is she possibly be thinking? About him? Or Sean? Or is she ignoring me?

“Samantha” He called her again. This time he was confirmed that she didn't hear him first time. 

“Huh?” Her chains of thoughts were broken, when she heard her named being called. She closed her eyes remembering how her name sounded in his voice. Eight year. She didn't look at him, but responded anyway. She was afraid that her response would give away a lot. 

“How have you been?”  Cheesy line, you can better. Her inner voice scolded him. Ian though that this was good conversation starter. Conversation started, my foot. The voice scolded him again.

Samantha does not know how to answer that question. It had been way too long to ask that question now. But why does he want to know now? Why not yesterday? 

She thought how to answer and what to answer. 

But this was what she wanted right, for him to initiate.  

“Fine” She replied, turning towards him who had his eyes on the road. “How about you? heard, you're launching a new project” Samantha added before he could say anything more. 

“Yeah, I'm fine. So, I guess you saw the banners!” He said with a quick glance at her.

She was studying him. She always used to watch him talk.  

He looked at her again to confirm, she heard him this time. She nodded and said.

"Yeah, you're all over the place" She confirmed as she saw another banner through the window.